{"id":1464,"date":"2019-06-30T07:29:19","date_gmt":"2019-06-30T11:29:19","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/bethturnage.com\/?page_id=1464"},"modified":"2019-06-30T07:29:19","modified_gmt":"2019-06-30T11:29:19","slug":"pirates-luck-chapter-13-laundry-problems","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/bethturnage.com\/?page_id=1464","title":{"rendered":"Pirate’s Luck~Chapter Thirteen\u2014Laundry Problems"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"Pirate'<\/a>Rastan cleaned his body in the sonic shower, while Arekan stood at the door preventing any of the curious crew from entering. The fact was Rastan, or the alias he used, Pepin, the new crew-member they had picked up illegally, was too pretty for a group of hardened criminals to resist. Arekan worried about this and feared for the day when the riffraff would storm them both. This worry grew the closer they drew to the Kyn border. <\/p>\n

Arekan had four causes for worry here. One was the illegal turbo-ramjet batteries that Captain Etharin stored in the engine room. The irony was that the turbo-ramjets made up very little of the ship\u2019s actual propulsion capacity it lifted the vessel off planets but did nothing else. But they weighed heavily on Arekan\u2019s mind. Captain Etharin illegally recharged batteries never meant to be so, and they were extremely unstable. Each time the ship jolted in and out of Null Space, Arekan was sure they\u2019d blow and ignite the fuel in the two large tanks of turbo-ramjet fuel. When they passed the Kyn border, they\u2019d drop out of Null Space, triggering another opportunity for disaster.<\/p>\n

The other worry was the wild energy signatures of the illegal turbo-ramjet batteries would stir inspection by the Kyn\u2019s Imperial Navy. Then Arekan\u2019s life would be at risk again. One DNA scan would reveal him a member of an outlawed family and get him executed on the spot. <\/p>\n

The third burning concern was that the crew would use the border crossing to assault Rastan for their insane ritual of inducting a crew-member in \u201cthe Heavenly Court.\u201d And for this ship, this ritual was especially cruel. They\u2019d shove a man out of an airlock without a spacesuit long enough for the man to pass out and then haul him back in. <\/p>\n

The crew made bets on how long it would take for the newbie to lose consciousness. They also made book on how long it would take for him to revive. One man would watch their victim in the atmospheric chamber that would force out the deadly nitrogen bubbles that formed in a man\u2019s blood from this dangerous game. Arekan survived, but he lived all his life on spaceships and received survival training in EVA\u2019s. Not knowing the crew\u2019s intentions terrified him, but he did nothing stupid either. Rastan? He\u2019d freak out cutting his chances of living through the ordeal.<\/p>\n

Rastan turned off the shower, and Arekan tossed him a towel to wipe off the dead skin the sonic shower pulverized into a fine powder on his skin.<\/p>\n

\u201cWell,\u201d said Rastan, \u201cthat was indescribably bad.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s that or stink. I should have told you to towel your hair before your body, or the dead skin on the towel ends up there.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThanks. That was timely advice,\u201d Rastan said sourly.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s just stuff everyone knows. Too bad you are behind the curve in the niceties of shipboard living.\u201d<\/p>\n

Rastan scoffed. \u201cI can see why you win friends and influence people.\u201d<\/p>\n

Arekan shrugged. \u201cMy sword does the talking for me.\u201d <\/p>\n

Rastan looked around expectantly, but Arekan just stood there.<\/p>\n

\u201cClothes?\u201d said Rastan. He raised an eyebrow.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou better put away that attitude of expecting people provide things for you just for the asking.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI get your crew-mates are criminals and degenerates, but you people are the ones that dragged onto this tub. A set of something to put on my naked ass is not too much to ask.\u201d<\/p>\n

Arekan looked away and sniffed. \u201cStay here. I\u2019ll see what I have.\u201d<\/p>\n

Rastan raised his eyebrows with the air of an influential person who felt entitled to whatever they wanted. Arekan, as he walked to the crews quarters and pulled his backpack from his locker. He had precious few clothes and couldn’t spare what he did. But what could he do?<\/p>\n

\u201cWatcha doing?\u201d said Obon. He leaned against the hatch with his arms crossed.<\/p>\n

Arekan pulled out his clothes and found nothing that would fit Rastan. He\u2019d swim in Arekan\u2019s clothes, and that\u2019s not safe shipboard.<\/p>\n

\u201cSo, Obon. Tinnen told me that there were plenty of crew members that don\u2019t make it to the end of the trip. Any clothes left behind that would fit the new crewman?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cTaking care of your boy?\u201d sneered Obon. <\/p>\n

\u201cYeah, right. Will you answer or will you sleep with a chain around your neck to prevent me from slitting your throat?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYou are an annoying git,\u201d said Obon. He pushed away from leaning against the bulkhead and turned to exit the room, but Arekan was on him in a second and held his knife against Obon\u2019s neck.<\/p>\n

\u201cClothes\u2014no lip\u2014now.\u201d <\/p>\n

Obon choked as he tried to pull away, but Arekan jerked him backward, and he gagged and gurgled. Arekan eased his grip. <\/p>\n

\u201cOkay,\u201d Obon sputtered. \u201cFor a skinny man, you are strong.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI think of myself as wiry and youthfully exuberant,\u201d said Arekan.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat?\u201d<\/p>\n

Arekan shoved him away, and Obon stumbled forward. <\/p>\n

\u201cYou have two minutes before I shove you out of the airlock,\u201d said Arekan. Obon shot him a nasty glare. <\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019ll be back,\u201d he said. Obon lurched into the passageway. <\/p>\n

\u201cI like your style,\u201d cackled the captain over the speakers.<\/p>\n

\u201cAnd I think it\u2019s weird that you listen to every conversation on the ship.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWatch it, boy,\u201d said Etharin. \u201cI\u2019s do what I must to keep on top you thieving gits. And you bear watching. Tinnen\u2019s right scared out of his wits of you. Why\u2019s that, boy?\u201d<\/p>\n

Arekan had no intention of sharing his personal history with Etharin. The pirate captain would delight in turning in Arekan\u2019s body for the Kyn\u2019s Empire bounty on it.<\/p>\n

\u201cToo much exposure to the engine\u2019s radiation. You know it has a crack in the housing, right?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019s know it. It\u2019s why we avoid the Impies, boy. They\u2019d haul away the Rogan as salvage without giving me a penny for \u2018er.\u201d<\/p>\n

Arekan doubted that was the only reason that Etharin avoided law enforcement. Whatever gets you through the night, he thought.<\/p>\n

Obon appeared in the hatchway with a bundle of fabric in his arms.<\/p>\n

\u201cThese are the best we got.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cDrop them and get to your duty station.\u201d<\/p>\n

Obon\u2019s jaw set, and his eyes narrowed. Arekan noticed Obon\u2019s muscles bunch, and reflexively Arekan put his hand on the hilt of his sword. <\/p>\n

\u201cYou aren\u2019t my officer, boy.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cHe is now,\u201d said the captain. \u201cI\u2019m promoting him to second mate. Now move!\u201d<\/p>\n

Obon\u2019s mouth opened, but he shut it again and glared at Arekan. \u201cSecond mate, eh? I hope you have as much luck as the last one.\u201d From his sneer, Arekan gathered the last second mate didn\u2019t survive his position. Arekan didn\u2019t care. <\/p>\n

\u201cYou heard the captain. Move!\u201d<\/p>\n

The force of his words propelled Obon from his position in the hatchway. <\/p>\n

\u201cDon\u2019t leave your boy alone too long,\u201d said the Captain. He chuckled evilly. Arekan wished he could smash Etharin in the face as counterproductive as that would be. What would he do? Take over the ship? He had no credentials to master a ship. The International Trader\u2019s Union strictly regulated captaincies and dealt severely with those who did not adhere to ITU law. To become a captain, one first must secure ITU dues-paying member status, then pass the difficult navigator\u2019s license, then take the highly secret Master\u2019s Test. It was a process that took years and required an ITU sponsor. He highly doubted Etharin was eager to sponsor anyone who could take over the ship. <\/p>\n

\u201cAye, aye,\u201d said Arekan sourly. He bent and snatched the clothes from the deck, and his nose wrinkled from the foul odor emanating from them. Rastan would complain, but there was nothing that Arekan could do about that. He didn\u2019t want to leave Rastan too long in the shower area naked.<\/p>\n

Rastan rolled his eyes when Arekan returned and dumped the jumble of clothes on the deck.<\/p>\n

\u201cI do not know what is here.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYou\u2019d never get a job as a personal dresser,\u201d said Rastan.<\/p>\n

\u201cA what?\u201d said Arekan as he picked through the clothes and tossed a pair of overalls at Rastan.<\/p>\n

\u201cA personal dresser shops for and assembles your wardrobe.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI see,\u201d said Arekan. \u201cWell, you aren\u2019t paying me for wardrobe services, so you know the old saying, \u2018you get what you pay for.”<\/p>\n

\u201cHar, har,\u201d said Rastan drolly. He held up the overalls. \u201cThese are fairly disgusting.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAt least it\u2019s better than grossly disgusting. Some of these other things have blood on them. Pull on those, and we\u2019ll get these other things clean. <\/p>\n

\u201cAnd how do we do that on this tub?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI got one of the sonic cleaners working in the laundry. I don\u2019t run it often though.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWhy\u2019s that?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019ll show you.\u201d<\/p>\n

Arekan brought Rastan to the compartment next to the ravaged recreation room that housed the sonic laundry. It was a small area with two large cubes with round windows at the end. Cabinets marched down either side with names etched in them. He saw some of the names scratched out, others taped over, but none of them bore the names of the current crew.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat are these?\u201d said Rastan.<\/p>\n

\u201cOn crew ships, the crew put their clothes in the bottom cubbies and whoever does laundry cleans them and puts them in the top cubbies. At least that\u2019s how it\u2019s supposed to work. On this ship, nothing works right.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYou seem to have a lot of knowledge of shipboard living,\u201d said Rastan.<\/p>\n

\u201cDone so all of my life,\u201d said Arekan. Then he pursed his lips. Etharin listened to everyone, and he should be more careful about what he said. Arekan stuffed the remaining clothes into the sonic cleaner he marginally repaired.<\/p>\n

When the clothes began to tumble in the cleaner, a high-pitched shriek blasted from the device.
\nRastan grimaced and plugged his ears with his fingers.<\/p>\n

\u201cThat\u2019s putting sonic in the sonic laundry,\u201d he yelled.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s missing a part,\u201d said Arekan over the din. \u201cWhen it goes to the next cycle, it will cut out.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYou think?\u201d said Rastan. \u201cCouldn\u2019t you take the part from the other one?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI tried. Worn out, too. From what the manual said, the sonic dampener needs regular replacement.\u201d
\nRastan shook his head as if he couldn\u2019t fathom not taking care of things properly, which only cemented his opinion that Rastan was some rich man\u2019s son. <\/p>\n

Arekan leaned against the bulkhead waiting for the current cycle to end and speculating about Rastan\u2019s background when he noticed something curious. At that second the sonic cleaner shifted in a quieter cycle. <\/p>\n

\u201cHells,\u201d he said. <\/p>\n

\u201cWhat?\u201d said Rastan.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe engines have cut out.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWhich means what?\u201d <\/p>\n

\u201cThey failed, and we\u2019re adrift or\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n

A bump that shuddered through the ship which confirmed Arekan\u2019s worst fears.<\/p>\n

\u201cAll hands,\u201d said the captain. \u201cPrepare for boarding by Kyn Imperial troops.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cBy the hajens,\u201d Arekan spit.<\/p>\n

Arekan considered his options in a flash, knowing he couldn\u2019t meet up with Imperial Troops with DNA scanners in hand. Above him was the cover of a ventilator shaft and he made his decision. With his knife, he began to unscrew the lid.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat are you doing?\u201d said Rastan.<\/p>\n

\u201cGetting us a place to hide.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThis is our opportunity to escape,\u201d said Rastan.<\/p>\n

Arekan shook his head and focused on his task.<\/p>\n

\u201cNo, it\u2019s not. You try to speak to those Implies and Grokin with split you a new one. He won\u2019t let you get ten feet within them.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYou\u2019re crazy,\u201d said Rastan. \u201cIf I don\u2019t do this now, I\u2019ll never have another chance. Come with me. I\u2019ll make sure you get the reward for my return.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI can\u2019t,\u201d said Arekan. He loosened the last screw, and the cover fell more heavily than Arekan expected. He winced as the edge cut his hand. He wiped the blood clean with his sleeve placed the lid on top of a cubbie close to the entrance. Arekan sucked on the wound while Rastan stared at him with an incredulous expression on his face. <\/p>\n

\u201cAll hands,\u201d said the Captain. \u201cReport to the cargo hold for inspection.\u201d <\/p>\n

Rastan glanced at Arekan filled with disbelief.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou\u2019re really not coming. You\u2019d rather stay here?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cNo. I\u2019d rather live. I\u2019ll find another way off this tub.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYou\u2019re crazy, Thad,\u201d said Rastan. He dashed through the hatch. Arekan shook his head and pulled himself into the ventilation shaft and pulled in the cover and set it in place. His heart rattled as he grimly waited for disaster.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Rastan cleaned his body in the sonic shower, while Arekan stood at the door preventing any of the curious crew from entering. The fact was Rastan, or the alias he used, Pepin, the new crew-member they had picked up illegally, was too pretty for a group of hardened criminals to resist. Arekan worried about this […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"parent":413,"menu_order":13,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"om_disable_all_campaigns":false,"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"_uf_show_specific_survey":0,"_uf_disable_surveys":false,"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-1464","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/bethturnage.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/1464","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/bethturnage.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/bethturnage.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bethturnage.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bethturnage.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=1464"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/bethturnage.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/1464\/revisions"}],"up":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bethturnage.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/413"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/bethturnage.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=1464"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}